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Retire vs Passe - What's the difference?

retire | passe |

As nouns the difference between retire and passe

is that retire is the act of retiring, or the state of being retired; also, a place to which one retires while passé is an attack that passes the target without hitting.

As a verb retire

is to withdraw; to take away; -- sometimes used reflexively.

As an adjective passé is

dated; out of style; old-fashioned.

retire

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (rare) The act of retiring, or the state of being retired; also, a place to which one retires.
  • (dated) A call sounded on a bugle, announcing to skirmishers that they are to retire, or fall back.
  • At the retire , the cavalry fell back.

    Verb

  • To withdraw; to take away; -- sometimes used reflexively.
  • * Sir Philip Sidney
  • He retired himself, his wife, and children into a forest.
  • * Sir J. Davies
  • As when the sun is present all the year, / And never doth retire his golden ray.
  • To withdraw from circulation, or from the market; to take up and pay; as, to retire bonds; to retire a note.
  • The central bank retired those notes five years ago.
  • To cause to retire; specifically, to designate as no longer qualified for active service; to place on the retired list; as, to retire a military or naval officer.
  • The board retired the old major.
  • (transitive, cricket, of a batsman) to voluntarily stop batting before being dismissed so that the next batsman can bat
  • Jones retired in favour of Smith.
  • (transitive, baseball, of a fielder), to make a defensive play which results in a runner or the batter being put out
  • Jones retired Smith 6-3.
  • To go back or return; to draw back or away; to keep aloof; to withdraw or retreat, as from observation; to go into privacy; as, to retire to his home; to retire from the world, or from notice.
  • I will retire to the study.''
  • To retreat from action or danger; to withdraw for safety or pleasure; as, to retire from battle.
  • The regiment retired from the fray after the Major was killed.
  • To withdraw from a public station, from working, or from business
  • Having made a large fortune, he retired .
    He wants to retire at 55.
  • To recede; to fall or bend back; as, the shore of the sea retires in bays and gulfs.
  • Past the point, the shore retires into a sequence of coves.
  • To go to bed; as, he usually retires early.
  • I will retire for the night.

    Derived terms

    * (l) * (l) * (l) * (cricket) (l)

    Anagrams

    * ----

    passe

    English

    Alternative forms

    * passe

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (colloquial) dated; out of style; old-fashioned
  • * We'll paint the town blue 'cause, baby, red is so passé. - The Pierces
  • * I never thought you'd be a junkie, because heroin is so passé. - The Dandy Warhols
  • Past one's prime; worn; faded.
  • Usage notes

    As in French, is sometimes used for the feminine: "a passée belle".

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (fencing) An attack that passes the target without hitting.
  • Anagrams

    * English borrowed terms ----